::Out-of-Character Forum::

[Makako-ma]

Arena Emperor

1. The Imperial Bloodline has been all but lost following the Assassination of the Emperor, the Diet legislators and the royal family by Japan's Most Wanted Man, Naniyori...formerly of the Embryon. The only two survivors of the massacre are a girl named Mokou who is secretly living under the protection of Embryon Brigadier General Gabi, and the current Emperor placed upon the throne by the new Mori, Emperor Cid.

As much power in the country's government, however, rests with the newly-reinstated office of the Shogun, occupied...of course...by Motonari Mori, the head of the Mori Clan. The Mori came to power after Motonari and his soldiers chased Naniyori out of the Imperial Capital and brought to justice as many of his 'conspirators' as possible in the time that followed. Having become a national hero through his actions, and with no emperor at the time to succeed the deceased, the people demanded that he accept temporary, emergency powers to stabilize the country. This lead his accepting the title of Shogun, which he retains even after the ascension of Emperor Cid.

2. The Mori's goal, as stated, is to unify and stabilize the country of Japan, and to do this they are dedicated to neutralizing any and all people, organizations, and supernatural creatures they deem to be a threat either to the country or the country's governing body. Their methods are ruthless, calculating, and efficient, and with their approval rating through the roof, the people at large tend to support them wholeheartedly, even if those within Government organizations have questions about how swiftly he came to power.

3. There is no more imperial family beyond Cid the Emperor and Mokou in hiding. As Rednal said...CRAZY things have happened in the past, here.

need more info on cid and any imperial family members

Due to Ishi's background, personality type, and beliefs they would be of great importance especially since she sees herself as a type of priestess. Politics aside the primary role of the emperor is that of the descendant of heaven/Amaterasu and head of the Shinto religion. She would consider any of them to be "religious vessels"

I say vessels because she also sees humans as somewhat lowly creatures. To sum up her perspective of them she sees a command or opinion from the true imperial bloodline as not belonging to them as a person but to the heavens. If the emperor said "I like cucumbers with my salad" she would consider it an omen, declaration, or prophecy of some sort from the heavens rather than a mere statement. She would consider the genocide against them not as an act of good or evil but rather the ultimate result of the shameful failure of humanity to treasure a gift given to it by the celestial goddess.

3nodding Ishi is gonna have a difficult life I think lol  

[Rednal]

The Yatagarasu and the Shogunate have... some rather large differences of opinion. XD Right now, the Crows aren't actively trying to oppose the government... in public... but I wouldn't say they really get along, either. Suffice to say that an all-out conflict between those two groups would be more destructive than either really wants.

Also, it's implied in the games that Amaterasu herself is the ultimate leader of the Yatagarasu, making the organization her tool for taking care of Japan and protecting it from threats.  

[Makako-ma]

Ishi's interest in the emperor is nothing official nor is it a secret. The emperor is just a head priest of a religion though. He's like the Japanese equivalent pope even if he holds no power.

But seeing as yatagarasu is hinted to be of that nature this should influence some of Ishi's perspectives on her own faction.

xp so basically I need to figure out how she would've been influenced by the state of the imperial family and their current life statuses as well as what Ishi would know about the relationship between the imperial family and yatagarasu as far as allegiances go. To oppose the imperial family to her is not necessarily evil or anything but its about the same as attempting to fight a rainstorm with a sword. It changes little and you'll probably just end up catching a cold.  

[Rednal]

THIS emperor holds actual power. rofl ...Well, Mori does, anyway, but they're working together here.

That said, no agent would EVER be trusted if they put the Imperial Family ahead of the Yatagarasu. Ishi's loyalty should be first and foremost to her organization, with all other loyalties ultimately secondary to that. She wouldn't even be out on assignment otherwise...

...

...And to be honest, a lot of what you've said is implying to me that she's not a terribly loyal person to begin with. XD;  

[Makako-ma]

Lol,

okay ill say it a better way.

Think of the emperor of a holy smart phone that gets daily text messages from the heavens with a cover autographed by all the gods. You are free to oppose the cell phone but what does that even mean?

A holy smart phone must not be allowed to get wet or abused by strange people. It must be cleansed of spam and all scratches and blemishes. A phone has no will of its own. The messages sent to you on this phone are from a being beyond your understanding.. weather or not you oppose them makes little or no difference except maybe to sway them somehow. They do not need or require your loyalty. This line of communication is a special gift to the lowly, foolish human peasants who may someday become more wise.

You cannot really be loyal to a smart phone, yatagarasu however is an organization with a cause. You either give it your loyalty or you don't. Ishi would believe that it is the will of heaven that this group exists. If ordered to kill the emperor she would see it as an ant telling another ant to kill the sun. It is not her job to criticize the foolishness of the order, she can only try her best and have faith that this will accomplish something.

Whether she succeeds or utterly fails in assassinating the emperor on the orders of yatagarasu then this is the will of heaven.

She is 100% loyal, she just perhaps sees the organization as something a bit different than some. Hence why she sees her self as a sort of priestess. Her interest in the emperor is like your interest one's own body. It is a sacred or just really important thing that must be cared for.  

[Makako-ma]

The emperor decides to launch nukes and kill everyone in japan

Ishi's response

Go perform a purification ritual
Go pray
Report for duty and prepare to oppose heaven itself in accordance with vows. Your station and present situation are ultimately the will of heaven and perhaps a punishment if you are opposing its vessel. Still even if you have been made into an enemy of heaven this is no reason to believe it is anything less or hold malice towards it.

Ishi is not the type that has to hate to harm. She does not hate or wish ill on others. If she must end your life or oppose heaven itself then so be it but that doesn't mean she doesn't feel awkward doing so.  

[Rednal]

Assassinating the Emperor is the kind of mission a top operative would get... probably Raidou or Kyouji. XD I do get where you're coming from, though.

It's probably worth remembering that there are many levels of heaven and such in this series... that said, the Yatagarasu doesn't see the emperor as possessing a true divine mandate. They'd know, too - keep in mind that this is a group that regularly meets with deities, chats with them, and occasionally fights alongside them. XD After all, ANYONE could be sending messages to that holy smart phone, so they just go speak to a deity in-person...  

[Makako-ma]

Rednal

Assassinating the Emperor is the kind of mission a top operative would get... probably Raidou or Kyouji. XD I do get where you're coming from, though.

It's probably worth remembering that there are many levels of heaven and such in this series... that said, the Yatagarasu doesn't see the emperor as possessing a true divine mandate. They'd know, too - keep in mind that this is a group that regularly meets with deities, chats with them, and occasionally fights alongside them. XD After all, ANYONE could be sending messages to that holy smart phone, so they just go speak to a deity in-person...

If the emperor is a smart phone then Yatagarasu is elder brother. Undeniably human and probably foolish but still the elder sibling and probably wiser than yourself.

Elder brother sits at the adults table and converses with the other far greater adults. Elder brother is beneath them but at the end of the day elder brother has been irrevocably placed in charge of you the baby sibling. Your fates are bound. Little sister believes that if elder brothers elders intend to employ her then they have no reason to ask, they will do it by force and she will accept this whether she wants to or not.

This same philosophy is partly why she does not relinquish control of her body to the ghost at the ceilia's house. If you can... read her mind then you may read her mind. If you can possess her she still holds herself responsible for what she does. If you can... possess her then so be it. Otherwise you will need an official order for cooperation. Red hasn't confirmed the location yet. Not before the last line of thought already started lol  

[Rednal]

Generally speaking, high-ranking operatives will read the minds of subordinates on a regular basis - it doesn't go in reverse, though, because there's no way Ishi would be allowed access to the kinds of secrets and information that a high-level operative has. Need-To-Know and all that. ^^ However, operatives are also expected to show good judgment, act independently, and not need their hands held for every little issue. After all, you sometimes have to make decisions without the ability to consult your superiors...  

[Makako-ma]

loyalty to law
faith in the absolute truth
love rains in autumn

emotion_eyebrow ^^^ classeh Ishi haiku

 

[Makako-ma]

Ishi's judgement in that scenario says that meeting the Kuzonoha, while a great honor, may or may not happen. She does not intend to bend the rules simply to have the pleasure of meeting she who cannot be bothered with Ishi's presence. This is not an objective of her mission nor does she have any grounds to demand such an honor from herself who is now faced with a choice.

What she does need is to make her presence known, to pay her respects, and to obtain any news and instruction needed.. This does not require a face to face meeting however.  

[Rednal]

Indeed - the Kuzunoha are a bit busy, after all. There are, however, many others you can talk to. ^^ Red's a good choice - solid Kyoujiprentice, him.  

[Makako-ma]

no clue what that means but it sounds like a plan! xd  

[Rednal]

It means he's gone through a number of events set up by Kyouji Kuzunoha, teaching him the skills he needs to flourish as a Summoner. ^^ The top agents often take at least a bit of time to teach those they think have a lot of potential... but things like that need to be earned, generally by characters demonstrating they deserve such experiences.  

[Makako-ma]

lol

getting started would be enough for now